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Monday, July 11 will be observed as World Population Day, under the theme: 'Gender Equality'. Manager of the Social Development and Gender Unit at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Mary Clarke explained to JIS News that, "equality is important for national development". Assessing the status of women in Jamaica, Miss Clarke said that with the ratio of men to...

The Ministry of Agriculture is currently conducting a census of the bee industry, aimed at providing relevant data for further development and future planning. Reginald Peddy, Chief Apiculture Officer at the Apiculture Unit at Bodles Research Station in St. Catherine, informed JIS News that teams have been in the field for the last week and a half gathering information. "They...

The National Works Agency has been instructed by Prime Patterson to proceed beyond emergency work to restore roads in St. Thomas and Portland that have been badly affected by Hurricane Dennis. He has also contacted the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) to supply petrol to these two parishes. The Prime Minister was speaking with journalists at Jamaica House this afternoon...

President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Senator Norman Grant, has called for Caribbean Countries to create alliances especially in the area of agricultural trade, as this would ensure the region's competitiveness in the global economy, and more importantly ensure the region's food security. Noting that a contingent of dignitaries from 14 Caribbean countries was expected at this year's Denbigh...

The St. Catherine Parish Disaster Committee is compiling a list of volunteers who will offer their services in the event of a disaster. Co-ordinator for the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in the parish, Patricia Lewis told JIS News that the decision was made at a recent disaster committee meeting, as it was felt that there was...

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Office of National Reconstruction (ONR), Danville Walker, has disclosed that the ONR was currently conducting an assessment exercise to ascertain the extent of the damage caused by Hurricane Dennis on July 7. While on a tour of Manchioneal, Portland on July 8, Mr. Walker told JIS News that he had already observed significant road...

A comprehensive assessment is being made of the damage caused by Hurricane Dennis in Portland, by the Emergency Operations Centre in the parish, to ensure that recovery measures are implemented as quickly and effectively as possible. Deputy Mayor of Port Antonio, Councillor Rupert Kelly said the Centre was working closely with a number of agencies and organizations in the parish...

Prime Minister P. J. Patterson has said that he had received commitments of assistance from regional and international governments, should the island suffer extensive damage from Hurricane Dennis. "We already have expressions not only of solidarity, but a willingness to make assistance available, should it be necessary, from all the CARICOM governments. The chairman of (CARICOM) conference expressed the support...

Over 400 persons are now staying at shelters in St. Thomas after rising waters from the torrential rains associated with Hurricane Dennis, drove them from their homes. Omar Afflick, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) Regional Coordinator, told JIS News that hundreds of residents in communities in Seaforth and Yallahs and other sections of the parish had to...

Preliminary investigations reveal that the island's infrastructure was relatively unscathed by the passage of Hurricane Dennis, which lashed the island yesterday (July 7). In an interview with JIS News, Dr. Barbara Carby, Director-General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) revealed that torrential rains drenched the island, and for the most part flooding was the major problem....

Approximately 523 persons who sought accommodation in 13 shelters in Clarendon, because of the threat posed by Hurricane Ivan yesterday (July 7), are being supplied with food items through the initiative of the Clarendon Welfare Sub-committee. "Since about 9:30 this morning, representatives from the Welfare Sub-committee have been in the field responding to persons with food items. We have targeted...

More than 250 persons are now occupying emergency shelters in the parishes of St. James, Hanover and Westmoreland, some as a precautionary measure, while others are as a direct result of flooding caused by the passage of Hurricane Dennis yesterday (July 6). Although not receiving a direct hit from the hurricane, several low lying areas within the western parishes were...